third quarter 2026
Filed Nov 3, 2026Cinemark reported record third-quarter revenue of $1,059.1 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $267.6 million, while net income attributable to Cinemark Holdings, Inc. rose to $122.8 million.
Third-quarter total revenue increased 23.5% to $1,059.1 million, Adjusted EBITDA increased to $267.6 million from $177.6 million, and net income attributable to Cinemark Holdings, Inc. increased to $122.8 million from $49.5 million. Attendance, average ticket price and concession revenue per patron all increased year over year.
Key metrics
shortened, hover for the filing’s print| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 total revenueGAAP | $1.06B | – | 23.5% |
| Q3 admissions revenueGAAP | $530.8M | – | – |
| Q3 concession revenueGAAP | $413.9M | – | – |
| Q3 other revenueGAAP | $114.4M | – | – |
| Q3 film rentals and advertisingGAAP | $309.3M | – | – |
| Q3 concession suppliesGAAP | $79.1M | – | – |
| Q3 salaries and wagesGAAP | $116.1M | – | – |
| Q3 facility lease expenseGAAP | $90.4M | – | – |
| Q3 utilities and otherGAAP | $142.9M | – | – |
| Q3 general and administrative expensesGAAP | $63.5M | – | – |
| Q3 depreciation and amortizationGAAP | $53.5M | – | – |
| Q3 impairment of long-lived and other assetsGAAP | — | – | – |
| Q3 gain on disposal of assets and otherGAAP | −$2.3M | – | – |
| Q3 total cost of operationsGAAP | $852.5M | – | – |
| Q3 operating incomeGAAP | $206.6M | – | – |
| Q3 interest expenseGAAP | −$31.3M | – | – |
| Q3 loss on warrantsGAAP | — | – | – |
| Q3 other loss, netGAAP | −$800K | – | – |
| Q3 income before income taxesGAAP | $174.5M | – | – |
| Q3 income tax expense (benefit)GAAP | $50.3M | – | – |
| Q3 net incomeGAAP | $124.2M | – | – |
| Q3 net income attributable to Cinemark Holdings, Inc.GAAP | $122.8M | – | – |
| Q3 diluted earnings per shareGAAP | $1.04 | – | – |
| Q3 basic earnings per shareGAAP | $1.06 | – | – |
| Q3 Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $267.6M | – | – |
| Q3 Adjusted EBITDA marginnon-GAAP | 25.3% | – | expanded 460 basis points year-over-year |
| Q3 attendanceother | 63.7 million patrons | – | – |
| Q3 worldwide average ticket priceother | $8.33 | – | – |
| Q3 concession revenue per patronother | $6.50 | – | – |
| Nine-month total revenueGAAP | $2.79B | – | 19.2% |
| Nine-month admissions revenueGAAP | $1.38B | – | – |
| Nine-month concession revenueGAAP | $1.10B | – | – |
| Nine-month other revenueGAAP | $304M | – | – |
| Nine-month operating incomeGAAP | $463.1M | – | – |
| Nine-month net incomeGAAP | $259.2M | – | – |
| Nine-month net income attributable to Cinemark Holdings, Inc.GAAP | $255.8M | – | – |
| Nine-month diluted earnings per shareGAAP | $2.17 | – | – |
| Nine-month basic earnings per shareGAAP | $2.20 | – | – |
| Nine-month Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $650.1M | – | – |
| Nine-month attendanceother | 166.4 million patrons | – | – |
| Nine-month worldwide average ticket priceother | $8.31 | – | – |
| Nine-month concession revenue per patronother | $6.63 | – | – |
| Nine-month cash flows provided by operating activitiesGAAP | $475.8M | – | – |
| Nine-month capital expendituresother | $169.7M | – | – |
| Nine-month free cash flowother | $306.1M | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Reportable Segment Q3 2026Attendance was 37.4 million, average ticket price was $11.16, and concession revenue per patron was $8.66. | $817.5M | – | – |
| International Reportable Segment Q3 2026Constant currency total revenue was $236.6 million. Attendance was 26.3 million, average ticket price was $4.32, and concession revenue per patron was $3.43. | $241.6M | – | – |
| U.S. Reportable Segment nine months ended September 30, 2026Attendance was 101.6 million, average ticket price was $10.88, and concession revenue per patron was $8.66. | $2.19B | – | – |
| International Reportable Segment nine months ended September 30, 2026Constant currency total revenue was $584.4 million. Attendance was 64.8 million, average ticket price was $4.27, and concession revenue per patron was $3.44. | $596.4M | – | – |
full-year 2026 outlook
- NoteFull-year expected investment of approximately $250 million.
What drove it
- Premium large format box office across XD, IMAX and ScreenX increased 50% year-over-year and surpassed the prior record by 20%.
- Motion seat revenue grew 62% year-over-year and accounted for 7% of global box office.
- The company reported a record third-quarter worldwide concession per cap of $6.50.
- The company said it sustained market share gains of more than 150 basis points since the pandemic in both the U.S. and Latin America.
- Q3 U.S. Adjusted EBITDA was $203.1 million, compared with $140.2 million.
- Q3 International Adjusted EBITDA was $64.5 million, compared with $37.4 million.
Concerns
- The company identifies future attendance, the number and diversity of popular movie releases, exclusive theatrical release windows, competition from streaming and alternative entertainment, currency exchange rates, inflation, and general economic conditions as risks.
- Total long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs and original issue discount, was $1,876.4 million as of September 30, 2026.
- Q3 film rentals and advertising were $309.3 million, compared with $245.5 million.
What to watch
- Progress toward the full-year expected investment of approximately $250 million, after year-to-date capital expenditures of $170 million.
- Attendance, ticket pricing and concession revenue per patron following Q3 attendance of 63.7 million patrons, worldwide average ticket price of $8.33, and concession revenue per patron of $6.50.
- International revenue performance on both reported and constant-currency bases.
- The content slate, theatrical release windows and the company’s ability to license and exhibit popular films.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents were $555.5 million as of September 30, 2026, compared with $344.3 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Total long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs and original issue discount, was $1,876.4 million as of September 30, 2026, compared with $1,875.6 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Total equity was $622.8 million as of September 30, 2026, compared with $413.8 million as of December 31, 2025.
- Q3 cash from operations was $136 million and Q3 free cash flow was $66 million.
- Nine-month investing activities used $(166.5) million, compared with $(98.6) million.
- Nine-month financing activities used $(95.7) million, compared with $(761.8) million.
Analysis
Cinemark delivered a strong third quarter, with total revenue increasing 23.5% to $1,059.1 million. Admissions revenue was $530.8 million, concession revenue was $413.9 million and other revenue was $114.4 million. Attendance increased to 63.7 million patrons from 54.2 million patrons, while worldwide average ticket price increased to $8.33 from $7.93 and concession revenue per patron increased to $6.50 from $6.21. The company described the quarter as its best-ever third quarter for revenue.
Both reportable segments expanded. U.S. revenue was $817.5 million compared with $683.6 million, supported by 37.4 million attendees, an average ticket price of $11.16 and concession revenue per patron of $8.66. International revenue was $241.6 million compared with $173.9 million, while constant-currency international revenue was $236.6 million. Premium large format box office increased 50% year-over-year, motion seat revenue grew 62% year-over-year and represented 7% of global box office.
Profitability increased materially. Operating income was $206.6 million compared with $114.4 million, net income attributable to Cinemark Holdings, Inc. was $122.8 million compared with $49.5 million, and diluted earnings per share was $1.04 compared with $0.40. Adjusted EBITDA was $267.6 million compared with $177.6 million, and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 25.3%, expanding 460 basis points year-over-year. Cost growth was also significant, including film rentals and advertising of $309.3 million and total cost of operations of $852.5 million.
Cash generation and investment remained substantial. The company reported Q3 cash from operations of $136 million and free cash flow of $66 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2026, operating cash flow was $475.8 million and free cash flow was $306.1 million. Cash and cash equivalents were $555.5 million, while total long-term debt was $1,876.4 million. The company deployed $70.4 million of Q3 capital expenditures and $169.7 million year to date.
The only forward-looking financial item disclosed was a full-year expected investment of approximately $250 million. The release did not provide revenue, earnings, margin, expense or tax-rate guidance. Investors will be focused on the continuation of attendance gains, ticket and concession per-cap monetization, the content environment, international constant-currency performance and the pace of capital spending toward the stated full-year investment level.
Management, verbatim
Following our record-breaking second quarter, we once again delivered exceptional Q3 results with worldwide revenue and Adjusted EBITDA reaching third quarter highs, and Adjusted EBITDA margin expanding 460 basis points year-over-year.
Sean Gamble, President and CEO
Our ability to translate positive box office momentum from a compelling slate of summer releases into consistent, meaningful earnings growth reflects the strength of our operating model, the effectiveness of our team and the sustained impact of our strategic initiatives.
Sean Gamble, President and CEO
Looking ahead, we remain highly confident in our long-term growth prospects and value proposition, supported by favorable consumer trends and content dynamics, as well as the distinct advantages we derive from our high-quality circuit, healthy balance sheet and differentiated competitive position.
Sean Gamble, President and CEO
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported financial and operating metrics were not provided.
- Gross profit and gross margin were not reported.
- A GAAP or non-GAAP tax rate was not reported.
- Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, earnings per share, margin, operating-expense and tax-rate guidance were not provided.
- Share repurchases, dividends and other capital-return activity were not reported.
- A previous outlook section was not provided, so comparison with prior guidance is unavailable.
Written by an AI language model from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure is checked against the filing text, and a metric the filing does not print, or whose value, prior period and change do not add up, is dropped from the metrics. The model can still misread a table, in the metrics or in the text, so check a number in the filing before you rely on it. Consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.